Improved play of mobile defenceman allowed NHL Western champions to deal Jack Johnson for Jeff Carter.

Kings defenceman Slava Voynov, right, with Mike Richards, has been a productive addition in his rookie season.

By:Kevin McGranSports Reporter, Published on Mon Jun 04 2012

LOS ANGELES—One reason why Jeff Carter was able to score in overtime in Game 2 and help the Los Angeles Kings get off to such a great start in the Stanley Cup playoffs was the emergence Slava Voynov.

The rookie defenceman wasn’t part of the play. But he’s a big part of the Kings’ drive to the Cup.

He proved — over four years in the AHL and a few cups of coffee with the Kings — that he was ready for a top-four role. That turned Jack Johnson into a tradeable commodity. And Johnson, the third overall pick in the 2005 draft, was the key to acquiring Game 2 hero Carter from Columbus.

“You trade a guy of Johnson’s calibre because you have a Voynov to go in,” Kings GM Dean Lombardi said.

Voynov had eight goals and 12 assists in 54 games this season with the Kings as well as a goal and two assists in 16 games in the playoffs, averaging 24 minutes a night with Willie Mitchell.

Picked in the second round, 32nd overall, in 2008 from Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL, his journey to becoming an NHL regular has been rocky. He came to the United States right away. In 2008, his first year with the Manchester Monarchs, his father died of cancer. And this year, he admits he had started to have doubts about whether he would remain in the NHL when the Kings returned him to the AHL in February.

“When I was sent down, I started to think about the KHL,” said Voynov. “I was mad and sad. My friends, my agent, told me not to think about it, just wait and trust yourself and trust Lombardi will keep his promise.”

Lombardi had sat down with Voynov, explained the situation, and promised he’d return to the NHL, that something was up.

“Lombardi told me something would happened,” said Voynov. “I just had to wait, wait, wait.”

That something was the Carter-for-Johnson trade that gave the Kings scoring on the second line while opening up a top-four spot on the blue line for Voynov.

“I think all four years I was ready,” said Voynov. “I played in exhibition games for four years. I play not too bad. I feel I can play. I did a lot of work with coaches. I’ve been ready.”

Voynov is a gifted skater with offensive upside. He plays mostly with Mitchell, a stay-at-home type.

“I enjoyed playing with him,” Mitchell said of Voynov. “He’s a good puck mover, sees the ice really well. Strong on his skates. Just turned 22 so he’s going to continue to get better and better.

“He’s fun to play with, nice to have lefty-righty there. I’m supposed to be there most nights to settle things down, cover up for him. He’s a good young player. Sometimes he’s covering my butt out there.”

Mitchell, in turn, is impressed by Voynov’s maturity.

“We need to be good as a pair for this team to be successful,” said Mitchell. “A young guy in a top-four role in the Stanley Cup finals, a big task.

“He’s pretty good. He gets it. He’s been a pro for a long time.”

If there’s one thing the two have to work on, it’s communication.

“His English is good,” said Mitchell. “I get on him about talking louder on the ice. As a D partner, you always need talk out there, but it’s not easy.

“If I was in Russia, I don’t think I’d be spitting out my Russian dialogue very quickly, either. It’s something to work on. He’s a good kid, loves the game and enjoying the moment.”

Voynov says he doesn’t feel any pressure.

“For sure I’m excited. No pressure. Don’t think about it as the final. Just excited.”

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